The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leadership crisis deepened on Wednesday as two rival candidates for the 2027 Benue State governorship election received Certificates of Return from different factions of the party.
The PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, presented the Certificate of Return to the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, after he emerged as the governorship candidate of the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Aondoakaa was joined by his running mate, Dr Oyije Ochaekiti Ogbenjuwa, and other PDP chieftains and stakeholders from Benue State.
Speaking after receiving the certificate, Aondoakaa thanked the leadership and members of the party for the confidence reposed in him, promising to justify the mandate by uniting the PDP and leading it to victory in the 2027 governorship election.
However, in a similar development, the opposing faction of the party led by former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), also issued a Certificate of Return to Dr Emmanuel Agbo, Director-General of the PDP Governors’ Forum, after declaring him winner of its governorship primary.
While the faction supported by Wike held its certificate presentation at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, the location of the event organised by the faction led by Turaki could not be independently confirmed at the time of filing this report.
The joint presentation of the Certificates of Return is the latest development in the lingering leadership crisis that has divided the PDP into two factions, each claiming to be in charge of the party and its structure.
With both Aondoakaa and Agbo having received their Certificates of Return from their respective factions, attention has now turned to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which is yet to release the final list of candidates for the 2027 Benue State governorship election.
